Investing In Sustainable Technologies In 2014

© Guerito 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2013 was a good year for companies in sustainable technologies. Investors took to the risk and put up their finance portfolios on green investment opportunities. The trend is expected to continue even further in 2014. Investment forecasts predict that investors are going to double their investment portfolios in sustainable technologies in 2014.

Growing trends in Sustainable Technologies

Over the last couple of years, sustainable technologies have generated a lot of interest. Sustainable technologies promise to bring down the cost of production and at the same time conserve the environment. Advancement in technology has seen a number of technologies deliver on this promise. This is why many companies are interested in implementing one form or another of sustainable technologies.

Qualified engineers leaning towards sustainable technologies are also graduating from universities. This means the sectors are not short on manpower. From the current going-ons, ambitious engineers are expected to drive inventions and innovations in sustainable technology to push it to greater heights.

Investing in Sustainable Technologies

The demand for sustainable technologies has been on the rise over the last five years. On the other hand, supply is working to satisfy this demand. If you are a keen investor, 2014 should be the year you put your money in sustainable technologies. Below are some of the areas of sustainable technologies that hold a lot of promise:

Solar Energy

Solar energy has been around for a while and has always been a good sector for high net-worth, low risk investors. The good news is that solar energy is not about to slow down anytime soon. On the contrary, this sector will see tremendous growth in 2014.

Technology advancement has increased efficiency in harvesting and storage of solar energy. This means consumers of solar energy are getting satisfied. Moreover, more homes and industries are expected to take to solar energy. Several solar energy companies are coming up to satisfy this demand. Now is the opportune time to invest in such companies.

Water and Waste Management

Demand for water is at its peak in the United States. A number of companies centered on waste management to reclaim water have been set up. These companies are riding on the water demand wave. The wave is going to get even bigger as households and industries compete for the scarce water resources. When demand outstrips supply, the country will turn to sustainable technologies in water and waste management to solve this equation.

Water and waste management is an area which will see a lot of innovation in 2014. You can invest in companies specializing in sustainable technology in water and waste management as they are about to see immense growth.

Large-Scale Energy Storage

To encourage the move to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, there is a need to fill the vacuum on how the energies are stored. 2014 is the year when we will see innovations to address this problem. Solar and wind energy uptake is on the rise and innovations to enhance storage will only see the graph climb higher. Both households and industries are turning to renewable energy to cut on costs associated with fossil fuel.

Lots of innovations on energy storage are on the offing. This can only mean one thing; a breakthrough is imminent. Energy storage will prove to be profitable sector to have in your portfolio for 2014.

The whole world has shifted focus to sustainable technology to solve problems and increase productivity. In 2013, we saw sustainable technologies prove they can solve global problems. In 2014, companies in sustainable technology will seek to take their efforts a notch higher and provide practical solutions. The demand for such solutions is at an all time high. This means 2014 is the right time to put part of your finance portfolio in sustainable technologies.

Author Bio
Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business. In this article, he explains new green technologies and aims to encourage further study with a Marylhurst University Sustainability Degree.

Retirement and Recycling: See Why These Two Go Hand in Hand with a Great Future

No one can escape retirement and the good part is that no one wants to. We have to take some time to enjoy peaceful days, to explore new things, to adapt and perhaps prepare a more calm, relaxed mentality and to apply a different angle on the way we see the world. Actually, the people who retire are the ones who are truly blessed: you get to spend more time with the people who matter, you get to watch over your grandchildren, you have tons of offers and resorts to select from and you finally have the time to do it all. 

Retirement should not be scary at all. Of course, it is a major change in our lives, but it also a change that is much needed. It is the time to either develop a small business that does not require too much energy or the time to write books, read stories, live through the eyes of the family’s youngsters. Some might think retirement is taking a step back, but I think retirement is a step forward. We, as human beings, have the capacity to embrace change and to adapt. Even more than that, we have the ability to recreate our surroundings so that we enjoy it and feel at ease in our environment. Creativity never leaves the human mind alone, as we strive to create a comfortable present and a better future. 

Recycling Bin (Photo credit: Canton Public Library (MI))

So what does this have to do with recycling? The answer is the future, of course. Sure, we “live the moment” and are anchored in our present like a key is in a locker. But what we all do, in a conscious or subconscious way, is to look and to walk towards the future. The key we talked about, well, it can open or close a locker. Humans can also open or close the future through their actions. Ignorance can easily lock away all the possibilities, while implication can unlock new opportunities and a new world. Recycling is that part that can unlock the future: not only for us, but for our family members, for our children and for our friends and neighbors. It is a way of giving back to the community or the group that has been supporting you for all those years. 

The EPA.gov website explains in several reports why recycling is needed and how recycling donations can be made in the USA. The first things we can recycle are of course electronics such as laptops, PCs, cellphones and Printers. These are the things we use the most and the one which deteriorate fast or downgrade. The Tech industry itself promotes the idea of getting rid of the old and embracing the new. And while we are tempted to get the latest notebooks and gadgets, what should we do with the old ones? 

Another answer: Recycle. Probably a reason to why many businesses were born: out of the need for a greener feature, a place where people can bring their old stuff and receive financial compensation and a place where people can actually buy cheaper recycled material. Here is an example: cartridgeexpress.net is one of those companies that recycles and buys material that can be recycled and reused. They operate in the PC&Electronics recycling industry, focusing on printers, ink cartridges and other components. People can both give up for recycling or buy recycled products and lower prices, with the same quality. 

All these actions lead to a better future: more workplaces, more businesses, a greener environment, a green retirement, a better tomorrow for our loved ones. So there you have it: a worldwide action towards greener living, greener products and a greener future for us all. 

Interesting Recycling Facts 

Did you know that if you recycle approx. 1,000,000 notebooks, you can save the energy equivalent to the average electricity usage by more than 3,500 homes every year? And that for every 1 million Smartphones and cell phones we recycle, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered?